Today was one of those great days.
It wasn’t all about me or my running, it was about making an offer to help out the Cross Country Coach at a small local commuter college in Augusta and my offer being accepted. 
This is just part of my trying to give back to running in a little way, instead of just going out and thinking about just me and my running.
I know that I enjoyed watching some of the next generation of runners here in Maine, run this morning over at the Unity College Invitational. Some were very fast, some were pretty fast, but all of them including the ones who finished at the back of the pack this morning were all faster than I am now.
Which is both humbling and at the same time motivating – I won’t let the young’uns pass me by without their having to work their butts off 
. It is happening, but still…not gonna make it easy.
Watching people running is a lot different from participating and having a reason to watch them is a lot more fun, than just watching random runners in a race. I have a feeling that I will enjoy this new chapter in my running career.
Sometimes there is more to running, than just running – sometimes we have to think about those who are coming up the pipeline behind us and extend a hand to help them if we can .
After I got home, I got to do my running.
I decided to run a little longer today than I originally planned and went 10. It was a mistake!
I was beat and while I made the whole run, it sure wasn’t a very fast one and I never really found my stride the entire way. It was one of those “I did it runs” that you put in the bank to say I can tough out those crappy runs that we all have sometimes.
My Newton’s have developed a click every time I land, which was annoying as hell. I don’t know if that distraction was enough to throw me off or what, but I know that my focus wasn’t really on the run. The whole way I was wondering what was wrong with the shoe? Nothing I could see, but I couldn’t get rid of the clicking noise!
It was a good day of running, even though my run wasn’t the greatest. I just felt really good about the helping out and making it through a 10 miler even though I wasn’t to into it today.
What are you doing to give back to running?
Is it time?
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Aaron Smith
September 22, 2012 at 11:23 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
I haven’t considered “giving back” to running per se, however I have volunteered to work an aidstation for a marathon. That was a lot of fun actually. Getting to see some out in front runners in a decnt sized marathon actually gave me tons of inspiration.
Coaching I think is a wonderful way to give back, especially understanding the legacy and the future is huge in anything we want to see continue on, so it is very worthy. I’m such a noob to this thing, running, that I am in sponge mode most of the time. I will have to give it some more thought.
Harold L. Shaw
September 23, 2012 at 8:09 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
I consider working at a race as a volunteer part of giving back, when I say giving back I mean doing more than just running and it to me is doing things for other runners
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susan @ snap and run
September 23, 2012 at 4:55 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
sounds like a great way to give back and provide support to the running community. i’m volunteering (for the first time) next month at a local cycling event and i’m very much looking forward to it!
those crummy runs are beyond frustrating…but as you said, you toughed it out, got it done and a great one is right around the corner!!
Harold L. Shaw
September 23, 2012 at 6:16 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
I haven’t volunteered at races in a long, but that is the next step in my giving back to the sport that has given me so much, one step at a time. Yes the next great run is right around the corner and will be fun when it happens
Live from La Quinta
September 23, 2012 at 5:21 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
As a cross country coach (high school level), I say thank you from all coaches. Without volunteers, while it can be done, it is so much more difficult.
Kudos to you for getting your run in. I am always pooped after a meet (though I got close to three miles running from point A to point B at our meet yesterday), and have no energy to go for a run.
Harold L. Shaw
September 23, 2012 at 6:15 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Week in Review 9/23/12 | A Veteran Runnah
September 23, 2012 at 9:40 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
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